Picking up someone at the airport

[Magiver]

@tumbleddown

I’ve never seen any airport where private cars are allowed to sit still until someone is in the active process of entering or exiting. You have to drive around a loop until you see your person come out.

The other option is to arrive at the airport at about the same time as the plane, maybe 10 minutes later, park in short term parking which will be the closest lot to the doors, and meet your person at baggage claim.

I’ve picked up a number of people at different airports recently and was able to wait in front of the doors. I think it depends on how crowded the area is as to how fast you’ll be asked to move on.

I would recommend that both parties have a copy of the layout of the airport and agree to a specific meeting point. Many airports with parking garages have multiple levels of exits and it’s a bitch trying to coordinate this in real time (just went through this). Once you know “where” then when is easier to figure out. the person waiting for the plane to arrive can track the flight on the computer (ex: flight aware) and prestage near the airport waiting to confirm landing. By the time the person gets off the plane and gets to the exit the ride is there and waiting.

Or you can just park in short term parking and wait in the building.

[Clothahump]

Most airports now have a cell phone lot somewhere. You pull in there and wait and listen to the radio until your buddy calls you and says they have gotten their luggage. You then drive into the airport and go to the pickup area for the terminal, get them loaded up and away you go.

If they don’t have a lot, just pull into Mickey D’s or Jack In The Box, get a Coke and sip it until the call comes.